White tea legend

Chapter 253 Gong Mei
"Uncle, when can I see my father and mother?"

Bai Yuan, Lu Yuming pulled Xuan Feng's sleeve and asked in a baby voice.

Xuanfeng looked at the closed door of the tea room and shook his head.

Lu Yu, Bai Cha and ten disciples have been staying in the tea-making room for several days and nights without coming out.

They brought the tea leaves picked on the Taimu Mountain trail back to the tea-making room and studied them day and night, trying to use the white tea making process to process the tea leaves as raw material into finished tea.

First, make Baihao Yinzhen.

"In terms of appearance, the buds of Dahao tea are fat, the white hairs are dense, longer, and silvery white, which is more in line with the name of 'Baihao Yinzhen'. However, the buds of Caicha tea are smaller, the white hairs are not as dense as those of Dahao tea, and the silvery white color of its appearance is not as obvious as that of Dahao tea. Therefore, in terms of appearance, it does not quite match the image of 'Baihao Yinzhen'..."

Lu Yu frowned as he looked at the Baihao Yinzhen tea made from Caicha tea buds.

Baicha nodded in agreement: "Dahao tea has larger buds and a high yield per plant. Even if it is on the market, the supply is relatively large and the price is relatively affordable. Caicha has small buds and low yield. It is also difficult to pick, so the price is bound to be higher and the market supply is limited."

"Daihao tea is easier to handle during processing because of its large tea buds, and has a higher yield rate. Caicha tea has small tea buds, which makes it more difficult to process, and requires higher technical skills from the tea maker."

"It is relatively easy to pick Dahao tea, but Caicha tea has small buds that are difficult to pick and are easily affected by the weather, resulting in low picking efficiency."

“Although the processing steps for Dahao tea are standard, the processing of Cai tea is more complicated, and each step requires more delicate treatment.”

The ten disciples gathered around their master and his wife, listening attentively with bated breath, and all nodded.

But this batch of Baihao Yinzhen has already been produced, it would be a waste if we don’t drink it.

So the master and his disciples used the Baihao Yinzhen tea made from vegetable tea to make tea. The contrast was even more obvious after taking a sip.

"This large-hair Baihao Yinzhen has a high and long aroma, with a distinct aroma and sweetness, and the aroma lasts after brewing. The aroma of Caicha may be more restrained, with a slight melon and fruit aroma."

"Dahao tea has a mellow flavor, smooth mouthfeel, good aftertaste, and strong resistance to brewing. Caicha may taste lighter, but has richer layers."

In this way, it is indeed not suitable to use this vegetable tea as the raw material for making Baihao Yinzhen, as it has many limitations.

What should I do?

Thinking of those poor tea farmers in Wangshan, those optimistic tea farmers who found joy in adversity, Lu Yu and Bai Cha felt heavy in their hearts.

They let the ten disciples take a short rest while the couple carefully thought of a strategy.

"Our current categories of Changxi white tea, Silver Needle White, White Peony, Shoumei are all very popular and loved by tea merchants and tea lovers. Even if we use vegetable tea to make these categories of white tea, it is not easy to make them popular in the market. How can those tea merchants who have been selling white tea made from Dabai and Dahao for so long buy vegetable tea?"

Lu Yu's worries are not without reason.

"Sir, what do you think if we use the white tea production technology to develop a new category of white tea in addition to the existing Changxi white tea category?" Bai Cha suggested.

“A new category?”

Baicha gently grabbed a handful of Caicha on the bamboo strips, and saw that each tea leaf had buds and leaves, some with one bud and one leaf, some with one bud and two leaves, and some with one bud and three leaves. He said, "Our Changxi white tea species is also called Baimao tea. Isn't Caicha just 'small Baimao tea' in appearance? Shoumei is made from the remaining raw materials after picking Silver Needle and White Peony for Dabaicha and Dahaocha, which is very similar to Caicha. However, if Shoumei is made from Caicha, its advantage is that it can be picked in the first spring, which is different from the raw materials used for Shoumei. The finished tea is also different from Shoumei. Shoumei is left after the production of Baihao Silver Needle and White Peony, so it does not have tea buds. Caicha has buds, so why can't we open up a new category of white tea?"

At Bai Cha's reminder, Lu Yu also picked up a handful of Cai Cha and looked at it, muttering, "The Cai Cha raw materials that were picked at the beginning of the spring, and the white tea products made using white tea making techniques such as withering, drying, and picking, are different from Shou Mei..."

Lu Yu's eyes lit up and he immediately called ten disciples to start work.

After several sleepless nights, the door of the tea room was finally opened.

On the Couple Peak, Brother Fan and Sister Juan came over after smelling the fragrance.

When they were made of stones, they looked like monks and nuns. When they took human form, they were a pair of immortal lovers. Otherwise, how could they deserve the title of "God of Love" and how could they gain the trust and admiration of the infatuated men and women in the world?

In addition to Lu Yu, Bai Cha, Brother Fan, Juan Mei, there were also Xuan Feng and his good nephew Lu Yuming at the tea table.

Bai Cha has already brewed a pot of new tea and is pouring it into everyone's teacups one by one.

Lu Yuming said in a baby voice: "Daddy, Mommy, why don't you let the brothers and sisters come and taste tea together?"

Bai Cha ignored him and just pursed her lips. Lu Yu patiently explained to him, "Because your brothers and sisters have been fighting with our parents these days, they are too tired. Besides, they have already drunk this tea and are now going to catch up on their sleep."

Lu Yuming was satisfied with the explanation and waited attentively for tea.

Lu Yu pushed a handful of tea leaves on the saucer in front of him, "Xiao Ming, play with it."

Lu Yuming really picked up the tea leaves, looked at them, smelled them, and started playing with them.

Brother Fan and Sister Juan were surprised, happy and flustered to see that Bai Yuan had a child, who was Lu Yu Baicha's son. They said they came in a hurry and would bring some small toys as gifts next time.

"We Yuming don't play with toys, we play with incense."

"Playing with incense?"

Bai Cha pushed a cup of tea to Lu Yuming and taught him, "Drinking tea and enjoying its aroma means appreciating and identifying the aroma of tea leaves through the delicate experience of smell and taste during the tea tasting process. There are some tips for enjoying the aroma. The first is the timing of smelling the aroma. Smelling the aroma while the tea is hot is the most direct way to capture the aroma of the tea. Smelling it immediately after brewing can maximize the feeling of the high and diverse aroma of the tea. As the temperature drops, the aroma of the tea will gradually change. At this time, you can feel the middle aroma until the tea soup cools down, then smell the faint cold aroma of the tail."

After hearing what his mother said, Lu Yuming picked up the teacup with his chubby hands and started to smell it.

It looks very realistic and is very cute.

Lu Yu handed another piece of dry tea to Lu Yuming and said, "There are also particular ways to smell the aroma. Smelling the aroma from different parts is also an important way to enhance the smelling experience. Starting from the dry tea, to the lid aroma when opening the pot, to the water aroma in the tea soup, and finally the tea leaf aroma at the bottom of the cup, they are all important links in smelling the aroma. Sipping in small sips can fully release the tea aroma in the mouth, and feel the fusion of tea aroma and tea taste more delicately."

Although the couple was teaching their own son, the tea drinkers at the table all followed their lead.

Brother Fan and sister Juan sometimes sipped and sometimes smelled the dry tea, and they also looked at each other and exchanged eye contact. Xuanfeng could only perform a one-man show, sipping and smelling the dry tea alone. He looked around but couldn't find anyone to look into their eyes, so he had to put down the teacup.

Bai Cha smiled and said, "The environment for smelling the aroma is also very important. Our tea room today is still lacking a bit of feeling. We need to choose a quiet and fresh environment for tea tasting, which will help us better focus on the aroma of the tea. At the same time, using a teacup with a small capacity and a narrow mouth can better gather the aroma and prevent it from dissipating quickly. Today's teacup is suitable."

“There are also some rules for pairing spices. Green tea is suitable for pairing with fresh sandalwood, while black tea can be paired with calm agarwood…”

Brother Fan interrupted Lu Yu and asked, "What about drinking white tea?"

There is no sandalwood or agarwood burned in this tea room.

"Is there anything particular?" Juanmei also asked. Everyone stared at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu said slowly: "Dried tangerine peel has the effects of regulating qi, strengthening the stomach, drying dampness and removing phlegm. Combining dried tangerine peel with sufficient age with old white tea can not only increase the aroma of the tea soup, but also enhance the health-preserving effect. The fruity aroma of dried tangerine peel and the sweetness of white tea blend together to bring a unique taste and a layered aroma experience.

Citrus fruits are also good, such as lemon or grapefruit slices, which can add a touch of freshness and vitality to white tea. The sour and sweet taste of lemon and the light taste of white tea complement each other, which is especially suitable for drinking in summer, and has the effect of relieving heat and refreshing.

The addition of floral fragrances, such as osmanthus and jasmine, can enrich the aroma of white tea. The addition of floral fragrances can make the aroma of white tea more delicate and lasting, creating a romantic and elegant tea tasting atmosphere.

In addition, herbs such as mint, rosemary, etc., these spices can bring a cool feeling to white tea, especially suitable for use in hot summer. They can relieve fatigue and boost spirits.

There are also nuts, such as walnuts and almonds. Although they are not "spices" in the traditional sense, their addition can add a unique fragrance and taste to white tea. The natural aroma of nuts and the fragrance of white tea complement each other, creating a unique flavor.

There are also cinnamon and star anise, which are strong spices but can also be paired with white tea in moderation. They can bring a warming feeling and are suitable for drinking in cold seasons.

The dried fruit not only retains its original fruity aroma, but also produces a new fragrance through the drying process, which complements the freshness of white tea..."

As Lu Yu continued to tell the story, everyone swallowed their saliva.

"But today, this white tea doesn't have any spices added. I just want you to taste its original flavor." Bai Cha smiled and made a "please" gesture to everyone.

Everyone took a sip of the tea in their cup and savored it carefully.

"Daddy, Mommy, I seem to smell the fragrance of orchids, and also seem to taste the flavor of fruit..." Lu Yuming murmured, but he couldn't tell what kind of fruit it was.

"This kind of tea seems to be different from the white tea you two invited us to taste in the past. Compared with Shoumei and White Peony, its leaf area is smaller, the leaves are thinner, and contain buds..." Brother Fan carefully observed the dry tea in the plate.

"It has a unique orchid scent, and the soup color is slightly lighter than Shoumei. Both the taste and aroma are rich and varied, with rich charm." Juanmei also commented.

"You two gods have good eyesight and good senses," Lu Yu gave a thumbs up and praised, "This tea is neither Shoumei nor White Peony."

"what is that?"

"Gongmei."

……

Chang'an, Imperial City, Xingqing Palace.

The water of Taiye Lake is clear, and various flowers are planted around it, creating an elegant environment. The craftsmen in the palace carefully arranged the venue, hanging colorful lanterns and silks, and placing incense burners, making the entire venue both solemn and romantic.

A concert is about to begin.

Pipa, guzheng, sheng, flute...all kinds of musical instruments made sounds. That was because the musicians had tuned these instruments in advance to ensure that they could produce the most beautiful sounds at the concert.

The princes, princesses, concubines and palace maids all attended the meeting in their best attire. Their clothes were gorgeous and covered with jewels. Civil and military officials were also invited to attend the meeting. They wore court robes and looked solemn and dignified. Foreign envoys were also among the guests.

The prosperity of the Li Dynasty attracted many foreign envoys to come to Chang'an to pay homage. They were also invited to attend the concert. The saint wanted to show them the cultural prosperity of the Li Dynasty.

The concert begins:

The court band played the opening music with beautiful melody, which instantly attracted the attention of the whole audience.

With the accompaniment of music, scholars and literati took turns to recite poems on stage. Their voices, whether passionate or gentle, blended perfectly with the music, making people feel the dual beauty of poetry and rhyme.

The poetry of the Ly Dynasty was as prosperous as its music, or even more prosperous.

"The clouds are like clothes and the flowers are like faces. The spring breeze blows the dew on the threshold. If we hadn't met on the top of the Jade Mountain, we would have met under the moon on the Jade Terrace..."

A poem written by a famous poet specifically for Concubine Yang.

After the poem recitation, the imperial concubine came on stage.

As everyone waited eagerly, the imperial concubine slowly walked onto the stage, wearing a gorgeous and colorful dress. Her appearance was like a fairy descending to earth, causing waves of amazement.

As the band played the song "Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat", the imperial concubine began her dance. Her dancing was light and graceful. She spun and jumped to the rhythm of the music, her long skirt fluttering like a fairy in the clouds, which stunned the saint on the stage.

After the dance, the imperial concubine was sweating profusely.

The audience burst into applause.

The concert went on, the party went on.

At the banquet, there was an endless supply of delicious food and fine wines, and people were enjoying this rare feast amidst laughter and joy.

Next to the saint, Gao Lishi waved his hand, and at his signal, the palace servants brought tea trays. There was a tea tray on each table, and on the trays were a teapot and several teacups.

The color of the tea soup is orange.

"Nonono, it's coffee." The foreign envoy picked up the teapot and looked at it. The transparent body of the teapot reflected the tea inside. The color was like the coffee in their country, even darker than coffee, a dark brown.

Did the Joseon Dynasty also have coffee?

The foreign envoy poured a cup and tasted it. Oh my god, how could coffee taste like this? When you first take a sip, it has a slight bitter taste, but it quickly turns into a sweet taste with a lasting sweet aftertaste. The tea soup is thick and smooth, leaving a long-lasting cool feeling, especially in the mouth and throat.

The foreign envoys remembered that their country's royal family had purchased a batch of white tea from the Merovingian dynasty. The taste was the same as this one, but different...

"Your Excellency, do you know what you are drinking?" the saint's voice came.

The foreign envoys hurriedly stood up and returned the greeting, saying in broken Li Dynasty dialect: "Your Majesty, this is a greeting of tea!"

The whole audience laughed.

The saint corrected the envoy with a sense of superiority: "White tea! Changxi white tea!"

"This is a new product launched by Changxi White Tea, Gongmei." Gao Lishi reminded the saint softly in his ear.

The sage nodded and said: "Gongmei is also Gongcha."